Fuse-block



(No Model.)

T. IIDATTERSON.

FUSE BLOCK.

Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS PATTERSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

F U S E B L O C K SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,057, dated April 22, 1890.

Application filed December 80, 1889. Serial No. 335,365. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS PATTERSON, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Safety Switch or Cut-Out for Electric Circuits, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to construct a safety switch or cut-out for electric clrcuits.

In accordance with this invention a block of wood or equivalent material has formed in it a groove or passage, which is lined with asbestus paper or equivalent material. Two blocks are placed in the groove or passage one at each endand a fuse-wire of German silver or equivalent is held taut between the two blocks by means of a spring. A suitable cover is provided for the groove or passage, which will be lined with asbestus paper or equivalent, to thereby totally conceal the f usewire and its tension-spring in an asbestus envelope contained in the blocks.

In carrying out my invention I may arrange as many fuse-wires in series as desired, and hence the block may be provided with several grooves or passages.

Figure 1 shows in plan view a safety switch or cut-out embodying this invention, the cover being removed, it showing two cut-outs arranged side by side; Fig. 2, a cross-seetional View of the switch or cut-out shown in Fig. 1, the cover being placed in position.

The block a, of wood or other suitable material, has formed in it one or more grooves or passages a. Each groove or passage a is lined with asbestus paper or equivalent material a Two metallic blocks a a are placed in each groove a -one at each endand atusewire I), of German silver or other suitable material, is fastened to one of the blocks, as a, and is held taut by a spiral spring I), attached to the other block a A cover 0 is made for the block a, which has a lining c, of asbestus paper or equivalent material, and the cover is held in place on the block a by screws 2 or equivalent fastenings. The terminals of the circuit are connected with the blocks a a so that the current passes through the blocks and through the spiral spring and fuse-Wire. Upon the presence of an abnormal current upon the line, the fusewire is instantly heated and, aided by the spring I), is ruptured, and the are which may form soon burns out in the asbestus-lined boX, so that no harm can be done.

When the switch or cut-out herein described is employed for outside work, it may be placed in a water-proof and non-combustible box of insulating material.

I claim- The block at, having one or more grooves or passages lined with asbestus paper, combined with a fuse-wire placed in said groove or passage, and a spring for holding it taut, and a lined cover for the block, which conceals the fuse-wire and spring within the groove or passage a', substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS PATTERSON.

Witnesses:

BEENIcE J. NoYEs, E. J. BENNETT. 

